New survey reveals US neurologists lack LGBTQ awareness

An investigation, the first of its kind conducted among American neurologists, reveals that more than half mistakenly believe that the badual orientation and gender identity of a patient have no impact on the treatment of a neurological disease.

This belief can have a negative impact on patients seeking care, according to a study published today in the journal Neurology.

"Many neurologists are unaware that gender-sensitive care can have a direct impact on neurological health," said Holly Hinson, MD, M.C.R., badociate professor of neurology at the OHSU School of Medicine.

Hinson, who leads the American Academy of Neurology's initiatives to improve medical care for LGBTQI patients, co-authored the research paper that accompanied the findings of the survey. The survey was distributed to a representative random sample of 1,000 NAA members based in the United States, for a total of 135 responses.

The researchers wrote that persistent disparities in health care have gender disparities and a gender minority, or SGM, with a mortality rate twice that of heterobaduals.

"SGM status can have a direct impact on diagnosis and treatment, even within a non-primary care specialty like neurology," the authors wrote. "Unfortunately, many health professionals receive little or no training in health, which could result in substandard care due to a lack of knowledge."

About 36% of survey respondents agreed to adapt their neurological care based on the badual orientation or gender identity of the patient. More than half of the respondents were interested in additional training in culturally appropriate care.

A lack of awareness can be problematic for neurological patients in different ways, the study citing several examples:

• Neuropathy, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), increasingly prescribed to homobadual men, may be badociated with neuropathy.
• A misunderstanding of the SGM's identity can lead to discrimination in long-term care facilities during neurorehabilitation.
• Sex-specific hormones can interact with other important drugs, for example the antiepileptic treatment used to treat seizures.

It should be noted that this is the first survey of a group of physicians to ask for the badual and gender identity of the physicians themselves: about 88% of them are heterobadual or heterobadual. Some of the claimants who identified themselves as belonging to a badual or gender minority reported fearing discrimination in their workplace.

"Providers themselves are not immune to stigma and burnout," Hinson said.